News broke this week that, "Roland Future Design Lab (RFDL), the innovation group within Roland Corporation dedicated to prototyping the future of music creation technology, announces the launch of the V-STAGE Accessibility Proof of Concept, a project developed in close collaboration with Jason Dasent, a blind Trinidadian musician, producer, and globally recognized accessibility consultant based in the UK."
"The project centers on Roland's V-STAGE Performance Keyboard, whose tactile design and near one-to-one correspondence between physical controls and instrument parameters make it uniquely suited to help blind and visually impaired musicians build muscle memory and perform with confidence," a statement reads. "Dasent, who has consulted on accessibility for leading music technology companies, identified the V-STAGE as the ideal candidate for a focused accessibility initiative. Working with RFDL, Dasent led development of a new accessible documentation suite covering every operational section of the V-STAGE, from its organ, piano, and synth engines to its effects section and rear panel. The suite includes screen-reader-friendly written guides, section-by-section audio walkthroughs, and video instruction with detailed audio descriptions, all built around consistent, tactile language so a visually impaired musician can learn the instrument independently."
"It was clear from my first conversation with Jason that his perspective could change how we think about accessibility in music technology," said Paul McCabe, SVP of Research and Innovation at Roland Future Design Lab. "The V-STAGE was his idea. He recognized that an instrument built almost entirely around physical, one-to-one controls could become one of the most accessible keyboards available today, if the materials that teach it were built the same way. This proof of concept is an important next step toward that vision."
"Roland has always been one of my favorite brands, long before I ever imagined working with the company," said Jason Dasent, accessibility consultant and project lead. "The V-STAGE already speaks the language blind musicians need: tactile, consistent, and built for muscle memory. All that was missing was documentation that met us halfway. Being able to build that alongside Roland, and to share it with the visually impaired music creator community I know so well, means a great deal to me."
“As a V-STAGE owner, Jason strongly felt that the instrument's design was already accessible and that all that was needed were appropriate support materials to help visually impaired musicians learn the basics of navigation," McCabe told MC. "It was an absolute pleasure for RFDL to work with him on this project. We hope this is the first of many."
For more information about the V-STAGE Accessibility Proof of Concept, visit Designing Access: An Interview with Jason Dasent.
